Neeuro Memorie Impression (Video added)

Firstly, it is an educational and brain testing app from Neeuro with the use of Neuroscience technology that records your brain activity with the Senzeband device which is needed to determine your brain as well as certain mini-games that require it. For first-timers, there should be a screen or an option that assesses your brain for strengths and weaknesses in various parts. Categories include Attention, Spatial, Decision, Memory and Flexibility for mini-games. Other statuses include your mental state, EEG Frequency Band and EEG Signal.

Bonus video - Made a MAD video of Sushi Recall from Neeuro Memorie in which it is truly presented as a Bishi Bashi mini-game.

Mini-games

• Sushi Recall - This one seems to be quite fun. All you have to do is to choose the corresponding sushi that is all the way on the left. When the level begins, either one or more disappear and you have to choose the corresponding sushi as indicated on the plate with the question mark. Choose the wrong one and you get deducted. You can have up to 10 levels and at higher levels, about four sushis will disappear and the patterns can be complicated and randomized no matter how many types of sushis are there. I even had the guts to speed-run from levels 2-8 like I was playing Bishi Bashi games and it can be handy if there's such a mini-game like that in a Bishi Bashi game in terms of concept. It doesn't have to be sushi anyway. It's just that you need someone to cover the target part for additional challenge. At level 9, it was where the mini-game pushed my limits and how the hell can the children and elders clear further levels like that? It is fun like someone can remake this in the form of an arcade game or some kind.
• Sitting Ducks - All you have to do is remember where the ducks are facing and then follow the instructions. It may tell you things like which ducks change direction and which ones don't.
• Multitask Master - This may be interesting but it can be hard if your multitasking isn't good. I may be a sucker at multitasking though. Various obstacles include number sorting, sorting of number of polygons in the shapes, bubble tapping, maze and to know where the hidden ball is moved to. The one where the ball is covered in one of the cups and then the cups shuffling and you have to know where the ball is pretty much ruins the experience of multitasking and consumed more time for me. There are also questions telling you the color, meaning or other stuffs of the word as well as the objects that don't belong or something. In addition, there's even the simple mathematical calculation via the question as well. I was told that some lady managed to move up to level 10 in this mini-game but I had no idea on how did she do that.
• Dot Connect - The board on the right may be rotated or flipped and you have to replicate the same connections.
• Star Gazer - Like Sitting Ducks, you're supposed to remember the number of stars in the sky, the planet and even the number of shooting stars.
• Space 360 - Hold left and right buttons to move the ship and the trick is that the rotation is done automatically and you have to get around it without running into obstacles while collecting the items.
• Supreme Shopper - This is where you have to make calculations as indicated on the instructions. There will be additional tricks like discounts, taxes and so on.
• Flower Garden - This is where you have to plant the respective seeds onto the respective soils and then water the soils that need watering.
• Junction Control - The traffic light surely says it all but it controls one of the sides. There will be a waiting bar indicating the driver's patience so some strategy is needed.
• Farmhouse Friends - What a weird mini-game I had ever played. You have to know what causes the event change. It's pretty much the least favorite to be frank from the way the mini-game was designed but since this is an educational game for everyone, the in-game music is obviously unnecessary.
• Who's Who - It may be similar to Name Recall from Elevate except that it uses the visual + text comprehension instead of visual + vocal comprehension. Well, why vocal comprehension when we can actually mention listening comprehension which is the proper name? 

There may be some mini-games that involve solitaire or maybe mahjong but I'm heavily against gambling stuffs so forget about them. Perhaps, I already regretted playing those S***c games that have the casino mini-games or zones alike so the best bet will be to take out or skip those zones when necessary and optionally, replace them with an education-themed zone like a Mathematics-themed, Science-themed or even History-themed zone.
I might have played Elevate on my Android device and it looks really educational like I can improve my vocabulary, grammar, comprehension and stuffs like that but chances are, you'll make a slow progress that way. It is a little bit useful for refreshing your memory since you will run into many new words you won't know of in the first place and the worst thing is that those words were already mentioned in the past time. It's a shame that Neeuro Memorie is less educational with a lack of proper educational content like mini-games related to vocabulary, grammar, other kinds of comprehension in which Elevate has but what is sufficient enough is the Mathematics side via Supreme Shopper and Multitask Master.
So if you're going to think of making a Bishi Bashi-like game with those mini-games taken from Neeuro Memorie, unfortunately, that will be insufficient. We can have Sushi Recall, Multitask Master and Space 360 and but that is all we can imagine of in Bishi Bashi-form.

Bishi Bashi form of Neeuro Memorie mini-games

• Sushi Recall - Regardless on the number of types of sushis, the thing you will need to concentrate is the corresponding plate colors. To add additional challenge, the plate color and the sushi will disappear and there will be a question mark on top of that plate and you have to remember that plate color. There will be time limit and your time will be graded depending on how fast you clear the stage.
• Multitask Master - Questionaire about the meaning or color of the word can be available as well as the sorting of the numbers, letters and even the number of polygons for the shapes. Unfortunately, that will require double play mode or something. Otherwise, it's not multitasking test at all. You will be graded on the number of correct answers and how fast you can answer everything.
• Space 360 - Using the left and right buttons to move the ship as using the middle button doesn't do anything. Optionally, the left and right on the D-Pad or Analog Stick can be used to move the ship as well. You will be graded on the number of objects you collect. Collision with obstacles three times may result in abrupt end of the stage. There will be time limit as well like other mini-games.

There will be future updates that include multiplayer support and additional mini-games.

SITEX 2016 Part 2

It was a shame that Neeuro Memorie isn't compatible with my Android devices it requires Android 5.0 and above like I already described in the previous blog post. Android 5.0 and above support the higher version of Bluetooth like version 4.0 for instance. However, I managed to see the rest of the mini-games that don't require the Senzeband and it looks like I can review that educational app at anytime here. Other discoveries include Singtel Dash, Windows Continuum and the wireless earpieces that have the short length of the wires. The odd thing about the wireless earpieces with short wires is that the micro-USB is hidden somewhere and you can use any portable charger you want provided that you have the micro-USB cable available. Of course, not all machines may support the use of wireless earphones/headphones so you may have to use the wired ones besides the wireless ones.
For that HP Windows phone hooked up to the monitor that I saw in Day 3, it was all turned on in Day 4 and I could see the Windows Continuum stuff in action. There might be minimize and close buttons on the top-right of the apps but it's inexcusable to make them hidden or invisible on the monitor. However, certain apps already have those buttons always visible and they look like the same as using the desktop versions. Unfortunately, the Windows Phone isn't popular among the standard consumers and when I tried out PowerPoint for instance, I was told that it required Office 365 account. Perhaps, I thought that a business Office 365 account was needed for that phone as Windows Phone is nowadays aimed at enterprise consumers but for Office 365 Personal and Home with Windows 10 Mobile, I don't know. Needless to say, a Windows Phone is as expensive as buying an IOS or Android device. About the screenshot for Continuum, it turns out that the way to take screenshots of the external screen is different. You have to use WIN+PrtSc to take screenshot and it is automatically saved to Pictures folder. Obviously, the data is all stored on the phone.
For Singtel Dash, it is a mobile payment platform for IOS and Android. For Android devices, those with NFC can support Tap and Pay but for those without NFC, you should use the app and enter the counter code to pay provided that you've gone to the store that supports that app. For EZ-Link card alternative, you may need an NFC phone and NFC Transit SIM card for public transports via Tap and Pay method. Also, you should be able to top up at Singtel Shop, 7-Eleven and AXS.

SITEX 2016 (Updated)

Again, there are new technologies being shown off at the roadshows like SITEX. It features things like Internet of Things, online marketplaces, digital membership, E-commerce, as well as educational games. Another discovery included the HP Sprout Pro PC and it looked like nobody gave a crap about although there was one negative thing I discovered, Virtual DJ in HP Sprout Pro? What were they thinking when that computer was supposed to be for enterprise and educational uses? Also, the touchscreen interface was complex to be frank and it put the mobile DJ software apps to SHAME. That is more or less a real disadvantage of using the software for educational purposes. Not to mention that who the hell uses that as a child? In fact, no DJ schools can teach people on how to use that computer to DJ because the idea of using touchscreen to DJ is an inferior and half-assed one. Sure, a professional DJ set may be complex looking with tons of features but the virtual DJ set via the touchscreen interface was already confusing enough for me when I saw Virtual DJ in that computer. There's also Crayola DJ but I don't know if that is suited for children or not. So, that's 3 disadvantages Virtual DJ has for HP Sprout Pro. It's not for enterprise use, its interface is complex enough to turn you off like you may need to get used to, and who as a child wants to use a professional DJ software like this? In fact, Virtual DJ SHOULDN'T be in HP Sprout Pro or any other enterprise computer AT ALL!
On the positive side of HP Sprout Pro, it has the touch-mat along with the Realsense 3D camera where it can scan real-life objects and turn them into 3D models. The Creators Update of Windows 10 should be able to help out with that computer that easily and it can also be useful for other enterprise and educational stuffs as well.
There's the eber.co digital membership. It's kind of like getting a membership for buying stuffs from whichever shop but digital. It minimizes the needs for physical cards as your membership cards are all digital.
There's also the online marketplace you can create with Arcadier where you can sell whatever stuffs you want.
Lastly, the educational game called Neeuro Memorie. I do have the educational game on my Android called Elevate where you can train your brain although it's a side part of your life and your learning progress is really slow that way. Memorie is designed for elders as far as I was told but it can be suited for everyone besides elders and children. There are tons of mini-games to play through although certain of which will require the Neeuro Senzeband. The only way to get that device out of the event will be online. None of the shopping complexes will probably sell that. It costs around $2XX when being shown at SITEX and it can be more expensive after the event. It is required to determine your brain. You can also unlock premium features which unlocks the rest of the levels. Some of the mini-games were fascinating enough for me like Sushi Recall which is kind of like Bishi-Bashi with memory or some kind and Stargazer which made me imagine that Cloba.U would make a game called Star Memorizer or something. Another mini-game I had fun was Multi-task Master and I could recommend doing two things at the same time although some parts were already becoming obstacles against multi-tasking. Perhaps, musicians, DJs and producers can improve their coordination that way with that mini-game but it may be an unnecessary improvement as they can improve their brain the other ways. Needless to say, this educational game requires Android 5.0 and above and none of my Android devices are suited for it. The way you wear the device is unlike wearing a headphone and it tracks and records your brain activity. For IOS users, you will need IOS 8.0 and above. I was told that there will be updates to the app in the future with additional mini-games and multiplayer support.

Facebook halts collection of Whatsapp user data in Europe

Three months ago, Whatsapp updated its group policy to allow data collection to Facebook as its parent company after acquisition. It was a controversial acquisition to be honest as Facebook has been doing illegal data collection of their users for advertisement and the users were not happy with this move.
Such changes, implementations or moves were unacceptable according to our criticism unless you're an idiot who thinks that we were whining over illegal shit like children when we were actually criticizing something over illegal actions. I mean if you come up with something unofficial and people know about it, you should be clever enough to be aware of your actions although finding a source that legalizes unofficial stuffs may not be an easy stuff. We have been willing to ensure proper freedom but it's a shame that evil corporations may take it for something suspicious or illegal.
After the amount of complaints and criticisms thrown to Facebook over such actions, the data collection was halted in Germany as it infringed the data protection law. You may be willing to make a change but such a change like this can make a positive or negative impact depending on how you implement it. What about the criticisms then? Well, it appears that Facebook was aware of them and stopped the data collection entirely within Europe after authorities signed an open letter to Whatsapp CEO demanding to stop data collection.
One past news was that many of the tech companies had opposed some terrible trade agreement that was recently rejected this month in the US although large-scale tech companies like Facebook, Twitter, Apple, Google, etc. are selfish enough over the public as if they care more for business users but not anyone else. If you don't care for your standard consumers besides business consumers and people working in your company, you will be cussed by them through many ways but ignoring their cussing isn't going to make things better either.

Firefox Focus for IOS

Perhaps, there should be another way to make a mini version of Firefox like Opera Mini is as Firefox Focus lacks various features like tabs, auto-complete and other common browser features. Of course, it may seem that Google search engine is like too popular among people like people use it to look up online for information they want but in the future release, there will be an option to choose whichever search engine you probably want.
Browsing-wise, you're in private/incognito browsing mode in Firefox Focus by default but you can export your browsing session to Firefox if you have that app. Another good thing is that you have the options to block ad-trackers, social-trackers and analytics-trackers. Downside is how over-protective the technology can be when it comes to privacy as if the service you're browsing to may suspect that your account is compromised and especially that certain features on the site may become inaccessible as a result of enabling a block that blocks other content trackers. There's also a feature to block web fonts but I don't know the reason behind it.

First practice attempt at Homerun Baseball

Well, this trip is more or less a punishment for attending a workshop that does the baseball spectating chant-like laughing rhyme as a way to teach me to smile and laugh, underestimating my personality and true concerns and attending an event NOT RELATED TO MY INTERESTS! I thought the workshops/conferences at Microsoft were standard looking enough where new technologies were being talked about including Windows 10 stuffs although I could be speechless at times because those features/technologies were done by the enterprises, not standard consumers. However, that workshop organized by CDAC was trying to be a class-wannabe kind of a workshop and I may be sure such workshops like that happen nearly every time. It was an unforgivable and offending day three months ago and the practice attempt at Homerun Baseball was a compensation for the embarrassments and insults given to me.
And by the way, a fake/rhythmic laugh is something gross or noisy to me so a comedy show or a joke that makes us laugh should be decent enough. Also, how about looking at videos or pictures of whatever animal you like? Won't that make you satisfied enough?
At Homerun Baseball located somewhere in Jurong East where the overall trip costs like a few bucks, it was a good opportunity to practice baseball there via either the battling cage or the pitching cage. For the first time, you can also have a 1-year membership which you can get additional tokens. At the battling cage, tons of balls will be pitched one by one every seconds and you have to swing the bat and hit the balls. Horizontally, the pitching angle should go at the metallic blockage but in the real baseball match, this is not the case as I have worries that I may get hit with the ball via deadball. Getting a foul ball or deadball counts as a strike although you won't get an Out if you get a foul ball one more time when you have two strikes. I don't know if that is the same as deadball though. About getting 3 balls to get a base, I guess it can be due to the pitcher playing dumb or playing a fool with you because that gives your team an advantage. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like if there will be scores or not for the battling cage although you should be able to get scores for the pitching cage.
The first time I went to Homerun Baseball, I needed some guidance of the basic skills but I still couldn't get things done properly as I don't have enough strength. Everything felt heavy on me that on the following day, my back, arms, parts next to my shoulders and my hands were really painful. Not to mention that I couldn't swing the bat quite right as the ball was pitched. It was recommended that you do some warm-ups before you start practicing but I went straight away with tiny amounts. Needless to say, I'm terrible at sports although I can do fine in swimming provided that I can swim and see things at the same time without hitting anyone accidentally. There might be baseball/softball teams out there in Singapore and especially for the adult teams but I was suggested to look up online. There is a sports association of baseball/softball located at Singapore Sports Hub at Stadium in which that place is special for sports.
The difference between baseball and softball is that the distance is shorter and the ball is a little bit larger for softball. Baseball on the other hand, has longer distance but it's a shame that we have to go through a different and lighter route with softball if we want to be part of the team. Sure, every sports competition looks fierce but in case of the baseball competition in Singapore, it's not as fierce as the one taking place in Taiwan, Korea or perhaps Japan. So if you want to be a professional baseball player, go ahead although it won't look quite easy for whichever sports career you want. A word of caution, a serious injury can put an end to your sports career like it already happened to some soccer players for instance.
Note that I had seen certain videos of baseball competitions taking place in Japan and they surely look interesting in every way. However, the origin of baseball is from America via MLB or something and the spectation there is nothing like the one you see in Japanese baseball competitions. It was a shame that certain spectation chants were mixed with those stuffs taken from certain games or cartoons and especially for the indoor opening/half-time show or whatever that involves the famous celebrities in whether they are virtual or real. Examples might include like UN Owen Was Her, the final stage BGM of Ducktales NES game, etc. for those chants from the spectators. Those who did those chants/calls BUT are not nerds whatsoever may or may not get turned off when finding out the origins one day. Maybe, those things don't fit in sports-land at all or something.

About that CDAC workshop I attended 3 months ago, it appeared that I was forced by those fools at home to do so and I was insulted by that workshop from the way it wrapped up. Also, my trip to Homerun Baseball took place in November 7th.

Beatmania IIDX Sinobuz First Play

Military, Medieval Fantasy, Train and of course, Ninja themes for a DJ simulation rhythm game like Beatmania IIDX are ABSOLUTELY OUT OF PLACE! How could Konami come up with such themes like that? It's not amusing as the real DJs discover such bullshit themes like that and play Beatmania IIDX for the first time during the time the game is having those styles. Sure, it can make them look ignorant at times but I can assure you that such DJ gigs will NEVER have those places decorated with with such themes stated above. You can dress up like a medieval warrior or ninja for a DJ party for instance but who's going to appreciate the fact that Konami has gone too far? Also, I don't think I may have seen a DDR game with an irrelevant theme like that.
Having knowing the fact that zombies don't fit in Metal Gear according to Hideo Kojima, how about saying and realizing that military, medieval fantasy, train and ninja themes DO NOT fit in DJ simulation rhythm games like Beatmania IIDX? I can assure that none of the DJ Max games may have such irrelevant themes like that. That may include probably DJ Max Technika series and Beatcraft Cyclon. What about Deemo? Does its theme fit so much correctly?
So here's what the newest style of Beatmania IIDX offers for you. Each day may have different system BGM when you start the game along with differences to the Mode Select screen. One of the days every week gives you some kind of boost in the in-game currency although there should be better features to represent yourself like the player message that is displayed in-game like in Jubeat and Groove Coaster. Also, all the unlockable songs from Beatmania IIDX Pendual are available in case you don't have so much time for arcade gaming in the arcades. Obviously, you may have to pay money for stuffs representing credits and having to unlock something you want costs even more. What's worse is the trip to specific arcade center located elsewhere.
The Century Square Virtualand arcade has the brand new Beatmania IIDX machine with the newest LCD monitor that is larger than the HD LCD monitor that is available since IIDX DJ Troopers. The newest LCD monitor was already available like a year ago but not all arcade cabinets make use of it. Using the newest HD LCD monitor, the game can identify the Definition Type as HD*. Not to mention that the feel of the cabinet of that machine is quite brand new when tapping the keys. The machines at Bugis Virtualand are using the SD monitor for proper timing so it may pose me challenge when playing Beatmania IIDX on the machine with the HD* monitor.